Page 24 of Cinnamon Roll Set Up

“Where did you get this?” Are they all over town? I didn’t think Mackay Farm would actually advertise the bachelors. But I guess you need to see what your motivation is before you willingly run through a corn maze to find it.

“Margaret Mackay stopped me at the grocery store this morning. She said we should put it in our front window. So…” She grabs some tape from behind the counter and moves to do exactly that.

“Maybe it’d be better back here behind the counter.” Someplace out of anyone’s direct line of sight. In a drawer would do.

“Nope. It’s going right here in the corner of the window. It’ll go perfect with our fall display.”

“Great.” The last thing I want is people coming in and thinking I might actually want to talk about this.

“Seriously, though.” She returns the tape and centers herself right in front of me. “Why didn’t you tell me you volunteered for this? It’s a great idea. I mean, for you. I don’t mix well with cornfields.”

She gives a big, fake shudder.

“I didn’t so much volunteer as I got thrown into the ring. It was Mom and Cece’s idea. And it’s for the Cortez girl’s recovery.”

Georgia’s expression turns soft. “Oh, right.”

She lightly runs a hand along my sleeve. Obviously, she understands why the cause means a lot to me.

“You’re a good guy for doing this. The chance for a date with you is going to bring in so much money.”

“That’s not a thing I ever thought I’d hear.”

“And I’m sure Kara will understand.”

“Who’s Kara?”

She grips my hand and giggles. “Your first setup, you goof.”

“Right. It’s hard to keep track of my dating opportunities these days.”

“I bet. You’re a real hot commodity. A bookshop owner, a writer, a guy who’d sacrifice his ego to help someone else out. You’re every bookish girl’s dream man.”

I don’t care about being every bookish girl’s dream—I just want to be hers.

Chapter 8

Georgia

Does happiness normally make a person queasy?

Tonight’s the night. In about an hour, Miles will meet up with Kara at Bella Italia. They’ll chat, hit it off, she’ll realize he’s the hidden gem of Magnolia Ridge, and they’ll set up date number two. They’ll be happy. IwantMiles to be happy.

So why does my stomach feel like I just ate bad tofu?

Maybe it’s my brother and his wife. I came to their place so I wouldn’t go to the restaurant to watch Miles on his date—which I would only do forscienceand not regular stalker-y reasons. I was so, so tempted. But ultimately, I decided even scientific stalking is too much, so here I am on Sam’s couch.

Watching him cuddle up to his wife in their kitchen while they cook dinner.

And kiss her like his life depends on making her sigh “just one more time.”

And trace his hands over her like he’s desperate to reacquaint himself with the shape of her body.

I probably shouldn’t have turned up unannounced on a reunion day.

Sam works as an outdoor guide and is often away leadingmulti-day hikes and adventures and I don’t know what else. He just got home after four days in the central Texas wilderness. He’s been married to Harper for a year now, but they’re obviously still in the honeymoon, “can’t keep their hands to themselves” stage.

It’s cute. And super, super awkward for any and all witnesses.

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